Innovative
solutions to the design, management and maintenance of urban
greenspace

Aedalsparken,
Hørsholm, Denmark

Long slab blocks of
apartments, high density, high rise, extensive
greenspace-Example
of the housing company working with the tenants to redesign
bleak entrance areas and car parking, making them into
pleasant and attractive greenspaces - regeneration funded by
the housing company

These flats, managed by
DAB Housing Company, were built by the Horsholm non-profit
housing corporation. Until recently the blocks were in a
poor state but they were repaired and given new facades -
new penthouse apartments were built on the roof and the
addition of a roof structure has radically changed the
appearance for the better. The look of the outdoor area was
also changed in an attempt to make the wide open spaces more
friendly and attractive to users. The result of this
regeneration scheme is that these flats are popular - they
are relatively cheap and near public transport (trains) and
attract young people. They consist of huge, long blocks, but
inhabitants have the advantage of looking out over fields
and woods beyond their adjacent car parking and
greenspaces.

The improvements have
meant an increase in rent, but at the same time the area has
become more socially stable and turnover of tenancies has
slowed down.

Among more recent
improvements is the option for glass covered balconies for
those tenants who accept a small increase in their
rent.

Hard standing areas for
car parking have changed from asphalt deserts to attractive
shelters for cars. The addition of these open, but roofed
car-parking areas has improved the visual image when viewed
from above.

As part of the
renovations the soil in the tree beds within the parking
areas was changed from "stable" gravel, which was heavily
compacted and restricting the capacity of trees to grow, to
a good growing medium and the trees are now beginning to
grow.

Although much of the
car-parking area is now covered in lawn, the edges of the
spaces are carefully designed to give a human scale to
spaces which would otherwise be dwarfed by the immense
housing block. The archway above is one of the many symbolic
"entrances" which have been placed along pathways from the
car park and bus stops to the main entrances to the flats
(all entrances to the buildings are secure and caretakers
live on site).

An attempt has been made
to redesign the main pathway at the foot of the building and
to give it the character of a "green walkway" .

Beech hedges are now
used to surround green areas. The whole image of the estate
has been improved.